Anyone else have this problem? With my '12 Mazda5 Touring it gets stuck in 3rd gear around 10-15 mph. In my opinion, hardly any car needs to be in 3rd gear at this speed. Scenario: slowing down to turn, or go over a speed bump, or come to an intersection (not stopping totally to 0 mph), then then later accelerating, the transmission gets stuck in 3rd gear. Then it lags and slowly accelerates through 15+ mph. The result: poor acceleration, which later turns to slightly over-acceleration (w/ added fuel in line and little torque), and awful gas mileage (about 17 - 19 mpg in the city!). Granted much of my driving is in the city going to and fro for kid pickups and drop offs--and lots of local speed bumps. However, even entering my house from the street, I decelerate to turn, then go up a slight hill --> it gets stuck in 3rd gear, then abruptly downshifts to 1st when the speed drops to around 5 mph.
I've learned that some cars have an oxygen sensor or some other mechanism to detect and control air/fuel combinations. Is this the problem? If so, is it an easy fix for the dealer?
How do I know it's stuck in 3rd gear? I can shift over to manual, and it indicates the gear in 3rd. This can't be normal, for not only is it a fuel consumer, it's slightly dangerous to have to compensate the acceleration lag once it goes over 20+ mph. Whenever I use the manual shift mode, I can of course control down and upshifting with no lag problems. Help, please!
I've learned that some cars have an oxygen sensor or some other mechanism to detect and control air/fuel combinations. Is this the problem? If so, is it an easy fix for the dealer?
How do I know it's stuck in 3rd gear? I can shift over to manual, and it indicates the gear in 3rd. This can't be normal, for not only is it a fuel consumer, it's slightly dangerous to have to compensate the acceleration lag once it goes over 20+ mph. Whenever I use the manual shift mode, I can of course control down and upshifting with no lag problems. Help, please!
